What do you play in brass band?

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:18 pm

I don't play in a brass band. But I wish I did, so I voted as such. I'd love to play an Eb tuba in a brass band. The nearest brass bands are a 3 to 4 hour drive away. If I couldn't play Eb tuba, then I'd wrestle away my friend's Couesenon flugal, the standard by which all other flugals are measured, and play that with a Warburton mouthpiece custom made with a cup in between his two regular models.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:30 pm

The Eb I had tinkered with and used for the octave parts to stay out of the way on a euph solo with concert band accompaniment last year belongs to my undergrad. So no, I don't officially own one, but I get to borrow it anytime I please, especially since I paid to have it refurbished and bought a new mouthpiece with the proper smaller shank for it.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:42 pm

I voted BBb tuba because that's what I'm currently playing in a brass band. I have Eb tubas and could just as well be playing the Eb parts but it just so happens that the band needed BBb players more than Eb players.

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:00 pm

I play my Besson 983 in a brass band, and in the quintets with which I play. I currently only play BBb in one group. I think that Eb, at least this Eb, is versatile enough for any of the type of playing that I do. If I were playing with an orchestra, which I'm not, maybe I would want to bring a contra-bass, but I get enough sound from my Eb to carry a 45 piece community band as the only tuba player.

I also am not very good at reading Bb treble clef (I'm an amateur ok) so find it much easier to play the Eb treble clef parts. (Is that cheating?)

David Spies · Post by **David Spies** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:35 pm

Our brass band has a somewhat different sound concept than traditional British-style brass bands.

Many of our players have performed for years in the First Brigade Civil War Brass Band playing antique American Civil War Brass instruments:

http://www.1stbrigadeband.org/

However, having said that, we have several players that perform in the Madison Jazz Orchestra as well as symphonies and other bands in the region:

http://www.madisonjazzorchestra.com/

To reconcile our vastly different sound styles, I personally use my Willson 3400. It's significantly larger than most E-flats, but it balances our sections nicely. I can blend my sound when I need to, yet "Drive the Bus" when called for.

BTW: Playing the E-flat tuba transposition in Brass Band has served me well when I have to sub for the Bari Sax player in the MJO on occasions when he has car problems!

For what it's worth,

Dave Spies
Solo E-flat Tubist and Assistant Director
Madison Brass Band
http://www.mbbonline.org/
Willson Tuba Quartet
Racine Symphony Orchestra
Madison Jazz Orchestra (Tuba as 4th/5th Trombone or Bari Sax)

GC · Post by GC » Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:25 am

I play a 1963 Conn 25J in the Roman Festival Brass, and a Fillmore Bros. ~1904 Eb and a 1864 Quinby & Hall Eb in the Georgia 8th Regiment Band (Civil War brass band). I wish it was possible to take the poll more than once, but cest la vie.

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:00 am

I have a Boosey & Hawkes Imperial Eb I play in the Lancaster (PA) British Brass Band. Check us out at

www.lancasterbbb.org

Great shot of the horn in the band's publicity photo (unfortunately I am standing next it, that ruins the pic)

ken "shameless plug" k

MikeS · Post by **MikeS** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:21 pm

I play a Salvationist Triumphonic Eflat and my cohort in crime plays a Yamaha YEB-381S. Our "Bflat" section consists of a Mirafone 186 BBflat, a Mirafone 186 CC, and a Cerveny Piggy. I think we sound pretty respectable although F's in the staff (concert) sometimes require a bit of pitch negotiation.

Chadtuba · Post by **Chadtuba** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 3:19 pm

Been playing BBb, but I'm trying to aquire an Eb and make that transition. Frankly though, I'm just happy to be playing

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 3:32 pm

What, no option for G contrabass bugle?

Oh yeah, we still try to tell people that "we're not the band"...

bububassboner · Post by **bububassboner** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:37 pm

I play the Eb alto because it pays.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:38 pm

Bob1062 wrote:Turned out they found a "real" tenor horn player (read- another french horn player or trumpet)

I dunno if french horn players count. Every one I've ever seen wants to play a french horn mouthpiece with adapter on the Eb tenorhorn. Gives it the wrong sound altogether.

Sort of like the cornet players using Bach mouthpieces. Makes the cornets sound like trumpets.

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What do you play in brass band?

What do you play in brass band?

What do you play in Brass Band?